Byggfakta UK awarded carbon-neutral status

• NBS, Glenigan, and CIS Ireland have achieved carbon neutrality with significant reductions in operational emissions since 2019
• Companies awarded certification by third party assessor, ‘Centre for Assessment’
• Certification pushes parent company, Byggfakta Group, closer to Net Zero target

NBS, Glenigan, and CIS Ireland, comprising Byggfakta UK, have each been independently certified carbon neutral for their 2022 emissions.

The accomplishment recognises each company’s efforts to reduce its own carbon footprint whilst aiding the wider sector in shifting towards more sustainable outcomes.

Awarded by third-party assessor, ‘Centre for Assessment’, The Carbon Neutrality status recognises 2022 operations as being carbon neutral aligned to ‘PAS 2060: 2014 - Specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality’.

NBS, a leading specification and product information platform for the construction industry, has measured emissions relating to its business operations since 2019 and has been certified as carbon neutral since 2021. Since its baseline year of 2019, it has reduced absolute emissions by 55% and emissions intensity per turnover by 68%.

Glenigan and CIS, leading experts in construction intelligence, have achieved reductions in emissions intensity per turnover of 16%.

As part of the carbon neutrality certification, each company has pledged a commitment to ongoing carbon neutrality throughout 2023 and beyond.

As well as reducing carbon emissions, Glenigan and CIS Ireland have joined forces with Carma and the Green Task Force Charity which provides therapy and a route to employment for ex-military veterans, sponsoring and planting 1000 native trees in Usk, South Wales. Glenigan’s team used the opportunity to join in with the physical tree planting through the company's volunteer days.

NBS is similarly committed to improving bio-diversity in the areas in which the company operates. In partnership with Forest Carbon Ltd, NBS has financed the planting of approximately 7,000 trees across two projects in the Northeast of England. 

Russell Haworth, Byggfakta Group UK CEO commented: “The construction industry is a huge net contributor to global emissions, and this achievement is a symbol of our ambitions to improve and educate the sector on the importance of carbon reduction, wherever possible. I’m delighted that Byggfakta has been awarded carbon neutrality across its UK portfolio, showcasing our commitment to leading from the front when it comes to sustainability.”

Lee Jones, Head of Sustainability at Byggfakta Group, added: “Achieving carbon neutrality is a significant milestone and a testament to the work of our employees and our commitment to both our customers and the wider environment. Our internal carbon reduction strategy has been a key driver of change - switching supply to 100% renewable tariffs, implementing a digital-first approach to meetings, and shifting platforms to the cloud amongst some of the changes we have made.”

Each company has also chosen to purchase and retire VCS carbon credits totalling their annual emissions for 2022 against international renewable energy projects, thereby offsetting its own residual emissions.

In addition, NBS has attained further accreditations, having secured a gold award from the UN Climate Neutral Now scheme for its efforts. NBS signed up to the initiative in 2021.
NBS has also been nationally recognised for its work to reduce its carbon footprint for a second year running, taking home the ‘Carbon Footprint ESG Performance of the Year’ Gold Award at the ESG Awards 2023 and 2022.

Glenigan, CIS Ireland, and NBS are committed to further carbon reduction in the future, in line with Byggfakta Group’s wider aim to become Net Zero. To find out more about Byggfakta’s sustainability efforts, click here.

For more information contact Jo Wilmot or Niamh Meyer at The Think Tank, or call 0207 831 225.